Abstract [en]

Cancer is one of the most common diseases in the West World. Cancer is also a disease that accounts for much pain and decreases in quality of life in the suffering individuals. The assessment of dimensions of pain is very important for the individual treatment in the palliative care to increase quality of life in patients with cancer. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and intensity, quality, location and duration of the present or “just now” and the usual or “every-day” cancer pain. An other aim was to describe the differences of factors, even deference of age and gender. Pain experiences were assessed with Pain-O-Meter (POM): The POM combines the qualities of McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Visual Analogue Scale into one tool, and is therefore useful for evaluation of different dimensions of the pain experience. POM also makes it possible to assess the location and duration of the pain. The result showed that all subjects experienced moderate to severe usual pain even though they were patients at a clinic specialized in palliative care for individuals suffering from cancer. The most interesting finding was that the patients in the assessment situation experienced their present pain to be more intensive then the usual or “every day” pain. These finding have implications for how to ask the patients about their pain. The results also indicated that the individuals experienced more intense pain during physical activities compared to the pain during rest. This will increase incidences of complications and decrease quality of life in this group of patients